A girl saying hello to the new kid in ninth grade. A yearbook message that seemed ordinary. Twenty-three years later, both moments become the opening chapter of our story. The…
jen mckenJuly 21, 2026
This is exactly why I started offering real-life family sessions — to help families remember what this season felt like, not just what it looked like.
jen mckenOctober 21, 2025
Right now, he still asks me to take him to the park. He still calls out “Mom, watch this!” as he climbs to the top of the slide, wanting me…
jen mckenOctober 17, 2025
You know that saying, “pack light”? Yeah… I couldn’t even if I tried. Haha. When I show up to a wedding, a family session, or a portrait shoot, sure, I’ve…
jen mckenOctober 9, 2025
I didn’t grow up surrounded by the kind of love I photograph now. Maybe that’s why I see it so clearly. The story of how hurt became my gift.
jen mckenOctober 6, 2025
Don't Make Her Ask Alright, Dads/significant others, listen up—fall is here, and with it comes all those magical moments that scream “perfect family memory.” Pumpkin patches, hayrides, trick-or-treating, and…
jen mckenOctober 7, 2024
(if you're new here) This is year 15th year of photographing the First Day of School photos- the 3rd for Levi. This tradition started WAY back with Mallory on her…
jen mckenAugust 21, 2024
I never knew quite what to say when someone asked me “how did you get started in photography? In my mind, I think they are probably looking for some fluffy…
jen mckenFebruary 1, 2024
Dear Future Brides, I'm about to get a little cheesy on you, but hear me out....... When I'm holding my camera, it's not just a "tool". It's more about holding…
jen mckenNovember 1, 2023
I've been a little MIA when it comes to my personal posts. I use to blog several times a week. In some cases it was every day. It was therapeutic…
jen mckenSeptember 5, 2023
Technically speaking, this is my 14th year of photographing "first day of school" photos. I started with Mallory when she was off to Kindergarten and just kind of kept it…
jen mckenAugust 24, 2023
Dear Mallory, These past 13 years of school have been one big beautiful blur. Even though I tell myself I’ll remember all the details of when you were younger, it’s…
jen mckenMay 24, 2023
Take a walk down memory lane with me..... As I was editing Levi's holiday photos I caught myself smiling thinking of where I came from and how I got started…
jen mckenDecember 13, 2022
You know that saying that goes something like: "the shoemakers kids don't have shoes"....well the photographers daughter didn't have senior photos until I lit a fire under her ass. If…
jen mckenNovember 4, 2022
